Did Texas A&M make the cover of College Football 26?
Like the first edition, Texas A&M was barely featured in one of the two covers, which made sense given the other players and teams leading into the 2025 season, led by cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, who was recently selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Advertisement
For the 26 cover, it's again no surprise the players chosen to don the cover, as standout sophomore Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams and fellow sophomore Ohio State star pass catcher Jeremiah Smith were the players selected after breakout seasons for both future first-round draft picks.
What has become kind of a game for Aggie fans started back up on Tuesday, as Texas A&M was, in fact, featured in the top right corner of the regular cover in the form of a flag, but not included in the Deluxe Edition despite featuring nearly every fanbase.
Whether the Aggies are being snubbed on purpose is up for debate. Still, if I had to surmise, Texas A&M's 1-4 finish after starting 7-1 last season likely played a part in not being widely represented, while, outside of senior running back Le'Veon Moss, quarterback Marcel Reed and wide receiver KC Concepcion, the Aggies' 2025 roster is very talented, but lacks star recognition due to last season's late struggles.
Advertisement
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Did Texas A&M football make the cover of College Football 26?
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shedeur Sanders' Browns debut draws NFL Network's best preseason ratings in a decade
Shedeur Sanders entered the NFL with a built-in audience, and it definitely showed up for his first action on an NFL field. The Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, in which Sanders made a successful debut, drew an average of 2.237 million viewers on Friday. Per the NFL, that was enough to make it NFL Network's most-watched preseason game since 2015. The league also noted it was NFL Network's most-watched first week of preseason ever. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Sanders might have only been a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but might be the most-followed player in his entire rookie class after four years of playing under his father Deion in college at Jackson State and Colorado. He also landed in a highly volatile Browns quarterback room, where Sanders and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel are on the depth chart behind veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. With the Browns holding Flacco out of the preseason opener, injuries to Pickett and Gabriel opened the door for Sanders to get the start last week. He made the most of it, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 113.9 passer rating. The performance drew significant attention on social media, including from NBA star LeBron James. However, Sanders will have to wait a while for his follow-up, as he is unlikely to play this weekend due to an oblique injury sustained in practice The preseason could decide where Sanders ends up on the depth chart, so any further time missed represents lost opportunities for him. Judging from the ratings, the people airing Browns preseason games would also probably like to have him back soon.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL holdouts, contract negotiation tracker: Inside Terry McLaurin-Washington Commanders standoff
NFL training camp season is upon us, which means holdout/hold-in season is too as players seek new contracts. While James Cook's hold-in was resolved Wednesday and Micah Parsons and the Cowboys are aggressively stuck in the mud, the Commanders and Terry McLaurin's standoff remains compelling on multiple fronts. There's a Jayden Daniels clock ticking on the situation, as the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year is primed to continue the Commanders' ascent, but he needs McLaurin to help do it. McLaurin has over 1,000 yards receiving in five straight seasons, and had his best season last year with Daniels, catching 82 passes for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns, being named second-team All-Pro in the process. On Wednesday's episode of Inside Coverage, Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Reporter Charles Robinson shed light on how the negotiation might have gotten off on the wrong foot early. "The way I understand it, when negotiations first opened, I think the Commanders were a little stunned by initially what Terry McLaurin and his camp were really gunning for," Robinson said. So what do McLaurin and his camp want? [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] "Everyone's being careful about not saying what the initial number was, but I will say it was ... high enough that it almost completely broke down conversation instantaneously between the two parties," Robinson said. "I think the Commanders were stunned at, initially, what the ask was. "And to me, the inference is, this was like, nearly top tier, Tier 1 money. So, are we talking $35 million annual average value? Are we talking beyond 35? Are we talking creeping up to 40? Robinson said he thinks the negotiation got to the point where McLaurin was asking for something similar to DK Metcalf's contract with the Steelers, which averaged $33 million a year and included $60 million guaranteed. With certain exceptions like Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams, few wide receivers have been productive after signing big contracts entering or after their age-30 season. McLaurin turns 30 in September. So where does this all settle out? "I think if it can get to $27 million to $28 million in annual average value," Robinson said, "if you're getting somewhere between $50 and $60 million in guaranteed money, I don't think either side would be happy, but I think it is the middle ground that gets those two together." Robinson added he spoke to a source who knows Commanders general manager Adam Peters really well. His thoughts? "I think people are going to find out a lot about Adam Peters right now, because I do not like negotiating with him," Robinson said, paraphrasing his source. "He has an edge to him that people I think don't necessarily understand, and they're going to see that now in this negotiation." It remains to be seen how soon McLaurin and the Commanders can get there. For now, based on Robinson's reporting, we'll tag them as far apart. How close, meanwhile, are the rest of high-profile contract standoffs to resolving? Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons: Kinda far "I think it's unbelievable that there have been zero contract talks between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys," ESPN's Adam Schefter said Monday. "There has been no progress and you have to wonder where this is going." That doesn't sound like a deal is close. This should be an open-and-shut negotiation. Parsons is 26, younger than all the other market-resetting pass rushers who've recently agreed to new deals. He can make a solid argument he's better than all of them. And the Cowboys' defense desperately needs him. Dallas has a history of getting deals done late, so we're leaning on that here, but boy is it getting shaky as Parsons continues to sit out. Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson: Close Did you watch the same preseason opener we did? Where the Eagles' backups on offense tore through the Bengals' starters on defense? Yeah. Couple that with Hendrickson remaining engaged while holding in, and we're calling this one close. The Bengals' need is clear as day. San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings: Close We'll tag this one as "close" too, considering head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Monday that Brandon Aiyuk likely won't play until a month into the season, at least. There was also yet another injury to the 49ers' wide receiver room this week. Jennings reportedly did a light workout Monday, but hasn't practiced since reportedly aggravating a calf injury on July 27 and is seeking a new contract. With the 49ers running thin at the position, it might motivate a deal to be done soon.


USA Today
13 minutes ago
- USA Today
Taylor Swift, Kelce brothers big winners in 'New Heights' collaboration
Taylor Swift made her anticipated debut as the featured guest on the "New Heights" podcast, hosted by her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. Swift shared information about the upcoming release of her 12th album – "Life of a Showgirl" – as part of the program. Swifties and NFL fans alike also got a chance to see her interact with Travis Kelce in an up-close and personal manner, thrilling many who wanted to know more about their relationship. Swift shared plenty of stories throughout the two-hour podcast. She discussed reclaiming her masters, performing the Eras Tour, her love of sourdough bread and delved plenty into her relationship with Kelce. That included stories about getting to know him, their early dates and her evolution into a football fan. Here are the winners and losers of the podcast episode. WINNERS When the Kelce brothers founded the "New Heights" podcast in 2022, even they couldn't have imagined it reaching these heights. Sure, when Travis' dalliance with Swift began, the program's popularity began to rise. It became a vehicle for Swifties and NFL fans alike to connect with the NFL stars, especially as Swift appeared at her first Chiefs games and Kansas City ended up winning the Super Bowl. But even so, "New Heights'" episode with Taylor Swift will likely be one of the most viewed podcasts in the medium's relatively brief history. Sure, the opportunity was handed to the Kelces on a silver platter given Travis' romantic link with Swift; still, that's pretty amazing for a show that is only on the verge of celebrating its third birthday. When the Kelce brothers started the "New Heights" podcast, there was no guarantee it would be a success. Nearly three years later, it has turned itself into one of the most culturally relevant sports podcasts and has helped catapult the duo to a new level of stardom. Interviewing one of the world's most famous celebrities on the program will only continue to allow their star to rise and, potentially, create an even larger sustainable fan base for the podcast. The timing couldn't be better for the Kelce brothers. Jason was in the twilight of his career when the podcast started while Travis was entering the latter stages of his. The show's success will ensure the duo each has a cushy post-retirement gig that could lead to other on-air media roles, much like Jason's with ESPN. MORE: Why 'New Heights' listeners are called '92%ers' No matter where Swift revealed her "Life of a Showgirl" album, she was going to get an audience. I mean, c'mon. She's Taylor Swift! Still, Swift was a big winner of her appearance on the podcast. Her personality shone through and she managed to land a few jokes that elicited laughs from the Kelce brothers. Most notably, she took a dig at the fatigue certain sports fans have experienced with her now years-long omnipresence in the NFL zeitgeist. "I think we all know that if there's one thing male sports fans wanna see in their spaces and on their screens, it's more of me," Swift cracked. Swift also told a handful of good stories, including an amusing anecdote about her lack of understanding of football from her first date with Travis. Swift also noted she was learning more and more about football terminology, hinting at an understanding about Cover 2, Cover 4, Cover 0 and man coverage. That may endear her a bit to NFL fans, as she appears to be a true student of the game. Reid has, at times, taken credit for helping set up Kelce and Swift. The two effectively backed his claims on Wednesday's podcast, with Swift revealing Reid vouched for Kelce through her father, as the two are friends. "Whatever Andy Reid says, we're gonna stand by," Swift said on the "New Heights" podcast Wednesday. "He said it, that's what happened." "'Cupid,' 'Big Red.' It's all the same," Kelce added. Considering how well things appear to be going with Kelce and Swift, Reid may want to consider a side-gig as a matchmaker. If not now, then the 67-year-old can pocket that as a hobby for whenever he does eventually decide to retire. LOSERS Look, no matter how you slice it, Wednesday will be a win for the "New Heights" podcast. It got two hours of material from Taylor Swift figures to have millions tune into a show that has, in the past, typically draw under 1 million views per episode. But just as the podcast was nearing its end, "New Heights" encountered technical difficulties. The YouTube stream cut out, leaving viewers watching that live stream unable to catch the end of the podcast. The podcast's social media channels quickly got word out there had been a glitch; and those curious to know what happened in the final moments of the episode could simply listen to the audio version on another app. Still, it's undeniable "New Heights" had a critical mistake in what was the biggest moment of its brief history. It won't be on par with the infamous "Heidi Game" by any means, but it was a sour end to what was supposed to be a banner night for the show. The NFL season is right around the corner. On Wednesday, Swift's appearance on "New Heights" was the league's biggest story, with members of the Chiefs, including Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, even being asked about it at practice. Additionally, NFL fans got to hear smaller stories throughout the day about James Cook's new contract with the Buffalo Bills, Jerry Jones beating Stage 4 melanoma in 2010 and Shedeur Sanders suffering an oblique injury at Cleveland Browns practice. While some of those stories, notably Cook's contract and Sanders' injury, have direct ties to on-the-field performance, it's still clear that the NFL news cycle is a few weeks away from being able to focus largely on the games. Those weeks could crawl by for those wanting the NFL's lengthy offseason to finally come to a close. Plenty of conspiracy theories have been bandied about that Swift and Kelce only linked up for the sake of publicity. Wednesday's podcast continued to show those rumors are completely unfounded, as the two appear to be legitimately smitten with one another. Kelce repeated throughout the show he is "the luckiest man in the world" because of his relationship with Swift. The two appear to share plenty of hobbies and interests, and Swift spoke glowingly of Kelce's "crazy" romantic gesture to ask her out on the podcast and their subsequent adventures. Does this mean Kelce and Swift's relationship will last forever? Maybe not, but it certainly seems like they are legitimately coupled.